27 March 2014

Busy goBay bus route between the cities to get extra services

A popular and busy goBay bus route between Napier and Hastings is to get extra services.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has agreed to add two additional buses to the goBay Route 12 service between Napier and Hastings during peak morning and afternoon periods in response to heavy commuter demand.

A report to yesterday’s Council meeting said increased patronage and the withdrawal of some Ministry of Education services has meant early morning and afternoon Route 12 peak-time services between Napier and Hastings are carrying very heavy loads and running 8-15 minutes late.

Sustainable Transport Coordinator Megan Welsby says the delays are frustrating for the bus drivers and very inconvenient for passengers, with reports of passengers arriving late at work, school and EIT and missing appointments.

In order to be able to add the two extra buses to the service within the current budget, the under-utilised Route 10 express service between Hastings and Napier via the expressway will be cancelled from 5 May 2014. Passenger trips on the Route 10 express service fell by 12% in 2013.

It is hoped the small number of commuters currently using this service will be able to use other goBay services to get to their destination.

A review of the goBay bus network is underway and will form part of the new Regional Public Transport Plan due out in 2015. Total passenger trips reached another record high in 2013 with 789,277 trips recorded, up 8.7% on 2012.

ENDS

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